Opposition Leader, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s motion for the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs to be included in the specified agencies list in the Bill for the Establishment of a Register of Sex Offences, the Registration and Reporting Obligations of Sex Offenders and related matters was defeated in parliament today.
While speaking on his motion, Ratu Naiqama says this is needed as most of the offenders live in the villages.
Ratu Naiqama says he has been visited by social welfare and prison officers regarding certain individuals that have continued to exercise their right to live in the village since they are registered in the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB).
He says in view of the offences that have been registered against these individuals, he wants to see that when he calls a village meeting, the respective heads of the mataqali be fully accountable to the village and the Government on the role they play to ensure that sexual offenders living amongst them are taken care of by the mataqali that they belong to.
Ratu Naiqama told parliament that at one point he was asked if the sexual offender could be booted out of the village and he was caught in between because the offender also has rights.
He says it is important that the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs be held responsible to ensure that all villagers abide by whatever laws are in place.
While responding to Ratu Naiqama’s motion, Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the specified agencies are the Fiji Police Force, Fiji Corrections Service, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Children, Ministry of Defence and National Security, Ministry of Health, Department of Immigration and Department of Social Welfare.
Sayed-Khaiyum says these are law enforcement agencies or related to specified areas of employment where there will be high exposure to children.
He adds by making the information from the register available to an agency that does not specialise in the area of law or welfare education, one would make a person’s name vulnerable as the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs performs administrative role.
